Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 118: I want to protect you too

Next morning.

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the sheer white curtains and spilled softly across the bed.

Vincent opened his eyes—and instantly realized that not only had all the injuries on his body completely healed, but his abilities had also advanced.

He had broken through to Rank Eleven overnight.

Something like this had never happened in the history of the Astrium Empire.

A sudden thought struck him. His heart skipped, and he quickly turned his head to look beside him.

Rory was still asleep.

Her small body was nestled against his chest, eyes closed peacefully. Yet her complexion was an unhealthy pale white.

Her slender, fair legs rested loosely against his, and the clothes she wore were light—almost too light.

"Rory..."

Vincent’s eyes filled with guilt and pain. He gently pulled the blanket up, carefully covering her.

"Mmm...?"

Rory opened her eyes drowsily. The first thing she saw was Vincent’s handsome face, filled with concern, remorse, and tenderness.

"Vincent—you’re awake!"

Her remaining sleepiness vanished at once.

After a full night’s rest, the blood-replenishing potion she had taken the night before had finally taken effect. She no longer felt dizzy.

She was still a little weak, though—her body lacked strength.

Rory reached up and touched Vincent’s face.

"How do you feel now?

"Have your injuries healed? Has your power recovered at all?"

"...You fed me your blood, didn’t you?"

When Vincent asked this, his voice trembled.

She knew better than anyone how precious her blood was—and yet she had given it to him without hesitation.

"Yes." Rory nodded. "Last night, when you turned back into Burnt Dumpling and fainted, I got scared something would happen to you. I panicked and fed you my blood. How are you feeling now? Are you better?"

Rory knew her blood was extremely beneficial to beastmen—but how beneficial, she wasn’t entirely sure.

After all, she had only ever given her blood to Yuel before.

And perhaps because she hadn’t given him much, Yuel’s recovery hadn’t been as fast as she’d expected.

"I’m completely healed," Vincent said softly, "and I broke through to Rank Eleven—smoothly, in a single night."

Rank Ten to Rank Eleven was a massive divide.

Across the interstellar world, countless beastmen were stuck at Rank Ten for their entire lives, unable to advance further.

Vincent himself had been stalled at the peak of Rank Ten for five or six years.

No matter what he tried, he could never break through.

"You reached Rank Eleven?" Rory looked at him, her face lighting up with joy. "Was it my blood that helped you break through?"

Vincent nodded. "Yes. Rory... thank you. But you have to remember—no matter what, you can never do something like this again."

He would rather remain forever at Rank Ten than let Rory suffer injury for his sake.

Only now did Rory finally understand just how powerful her blood truly was.

It seemed that before, she really had given Yuel far too little.

She pulled back the blanket, swung a leg over Vincent’s taut waist, and leaned down, cupping his face in her hands.

"I understand what you mean," she said softly. "You and Yuel are the same—you don’t want me to get hurt. But we’re family," she continued, her gaze steady. "You’re my companion. If it’s within my ability to help you—to help all of you—why should I hold back?"

"But—" Vincent tried to speak, but Rory leaned down and kissed him, cutting him off.

"Vincent, there is no ’but.’ Don’t worry. I won’t force myself beyond my limits. I won’t do anything that endangers my life."

She looked at him seriously. "You protect me. You take care of me. You would even give up your lives for me. I want to protect you too—in my own way."

It was just a little blood. A few bottles of blood-restoring medicine, and she could make it back easily.

In the past, when she hunted mutated beasts alone, she had lost far more blood than this.

After speaking, Rory gently pressed a kiss to the center of Vincent’s brow.

A bonded match—and a true companion—really were different. With Vincent’s beast mark now on her, Rory could clearly sense every emotion he felt toward her.

Tenderness. Pain. Longing. Even a willingness to give his life for her.

That intense, surging affection stirred something deep inside her, making her instinctively want to draw closer to him.

Feeling the restraint he was forcing upon himself, Rory traced her fingertips lightly across his lips, slowly outlining their shape.

Vincent watched her, his fire-colored eyes flickering between light and shadow.

"Rory," he murmured hoarsely, "don’t you want to kiss me?"

His throat bobbed as every drop of blood in his body cried out. Before Rory could answer, his long fingers tightened around her waist, and he kissed her gently.

He lowered her onto the bed, his movements careful and tender, his hands moving slowly, patiently—guiding her step by step, drawing her down with him.

Time slipped away.

Rory felt as though she were melting into his arms.

Only then did Vincent reluctantly pull away.

He looked at the barely-there nightwear she was wearing, the smile in his eyes almost overflowing.

"This was prepared by Yuel, wasn’t it?"

Rory had only just come back to herself from the kiss. Hearing his question, her face flushed instantly.

It was all Yuel’s fault—there hadn’t been a single piece of sleepwear he’d prepared that was even remotely normal.

"Rory," Vincent said with a soft chuckle, "I’ll have someone prepare a new batch of clothes for you today. This kind of thing is fine once in a while—but it’s not suitable for everyday wear at home."

"I didn’t plan on wearing it around the house," Rory protested, her face still red, imagining herself walking around in something like that.

Just imagining that scene made Rory want to dig out a hole and hide there forever. She could die at any time in this world, but she absolutely could not die of embarrassment.

Seeing how shy she was, Vincent coaxed her gently. "All right, all right. I know our Rory is a proper, respectable person. This is all Yuel’s fault—he’s the one who led you astray. I’ll deal with him later."

Vincent was smiling softly as he said it.

Yet Rory had a very strong feeling—Yuel was about to suffer.

She finally understood something.

This man might look gentle and easygoing, but deep down, he was just as dark-hearted as the rest of them.

Still, standing beside him, Rory felt an overwhelming sense of security.

Vincent went into the walk-in closet and picked out a set of clothes that would be comfortable enough to wear around the house.

As he surveyed the wardrobe, a cold smile tugged at his lips.

So this was Yuel’s plan? Let Rory wear those scandalously light outfits at home, then switch into formal gowns or combat uniforms the moment she stepped outside?

"Rory, put this on for now," Vincent said calmly. "I’ll have someone send over a new batch of clothes tailored to your measurements right away."

"There’s no need to rush," Rory replied. "I have clothes in my ring space."

Though the ring holding her sleepwear was with Jasper.

She truly hadn’t expected Yuel to prepare such provocative nightwear.

Rory quickly took out several wearable outfits from her ring.

Vincent immediately tossed aside the set he’d picked earlier, selected one from the clothes she’d brought out herself, and gently helped her put it on.

She’d originally wanted to dress herself.

But after just a few quiet words from Vincent, she somehow gave up on that idea entirely.

***

Meanwhile, downstairs.

Nix sat bored in the living room, idly tapping at his light-brain.

Beside him, Yuel was dressed in his command uniform, one hand propping up his forehead, eyes closed as if resting.

Nix glanced at the time. It was nearly ten o’clock—and Vincent still hadn’t come out of the Female Master’s room.

Just what kind of method had the Second Prince used?

To stay in her room all night? Was he really more favored than Jasper?

Nix couldn’t figure it out. Irritated, he reached over and poked Yuel.

"You’re at home. Why are you dressed so formally?"

Is he trying to seduce the Female Master? Uniform temptation?

Should he go back and change into his work clothes too?

Nix imagined his own dull, gray work uniforms and immediately shook his head.

He hated them himself.

The Female Master definitely wouldn’t like them.

Yuel sat quietly beside him, fully aware of Nix’s little movements. Without even opening his eyes, he spoke in a low, measured tone.

"You’ll find out soon enough."